Just put my dog into kennels for the week - was horrified that they were like large cages in one room - she can see all the rest of the dogs and touch noses with the one next to her.  The kennel hadn't been cleaned from it's last occupant and I am horrified that I didn't check it out first.  Thought it would be OK - I used to take my first dog up there.  Now I have to spend a week worrying that she will be alright. To think I didn't put her in the usual kennels because I didn't like the owner saying 'if she snaps, give her a wallop'  Which is the lesser of two evils I wonder.

Just to add - bought my first dog from there!  Our neighbour uses another part of the family who take one or two dogs into the home and they are very pleased with the service there.  Of course my dog would not be suitable for that because she would likely escape and run for it.

I'm sure you could have done better but sure your dog will be all right, not sure how they came to put your dog into a dirty kennel though that does seem unforgivable even if they had a problem - they should have put the dog into a cage explaining to you they needed to clean the kennel and would transfer the dog once it was done which would only be a matter of less than an hour.

was horrified that they were like large cages in one room
That's what some kennels do in peak season - even stack them on top of each other! :(
But no, I wouldn't be happy that my dogs were kept like that..... 
This is not a particularly busy period.  Can you ring round and look at other kennels in your area?  Look for security gates, clean kennels and attached runs to each kennel.  Don't worry about exercise - dogs can survive for a week without it and with all the other movement and activity that goes on, they're stimulated anyway.  And look for staff who have dog knowledge and common sense!
Good luck. :)

We did turn up on the dot of 10 and he said that they had only just started to clean out the kennels.  He also said that if a dog seemed uncomfortable they will move it - fingers crossed.  At least she is used to being with other dogs at shows - but I expect she will soon be hoarse barking there.  My instincts said get her out again and take her to the other kennels while I can - but not enough time now.  Next time hopefully I will get her in the kennels of choice - this was only a back up because my first choice was full this weekend.

The owners breed and show dogs - are on this site - don't know if they post on this forum - have never noticed them, but if they do please look after her well.

We did turn up on the dot of 10 and he said that they had only just started to clean out the kennels
Mmm interesting.  Most kennels start work at 8am as the dogs have been shut in from 5pm the day before......

Ceejay, bet she will have a whale of a time shouting at all the others, she will come home happy and horse. Good job they do not have mine along side they would be making so much noise they could have the kennels shut down for noise pollution.

They probably do open at 8 but feed first and exercise and clean later.

I was told that they give the dogs daily walks - also told that they NEVER have kennel cough.  Always take that one with a pinch of salt :-)

I once boarded my cat at the vets - never again. The cat was handed over the counter at surgery in her basket. On returning to pick her up, first of all they gave me the wrong cat then they couldn't get my cat back in the basket so asked me to go through and get her. She was in a tiny cage - no bigger than a cat carrier. These were all stacked up like small animal cages in the pet shop. I was horrified and, like you, kicking myself for not checking first but thought as it was a vets they would have good facilities :-(

Fortunately we left the town soon after and never had to go to that vet again! I have to say the cat was neither up nor down when we got her home but the thought of her being stuck in that tiny box with no natural daylight for a week was just terrible.   

> whale of a time shouting

Thanks Jackie - for trying to make me feel better.  Have been getting a little patting therapy fussing over the little chihuahua in our hotel.  At least the cage was a reasonable size - it was just the shock that it was open - so all the dogs could see each other.  In my old kennels the dogs had an enclosed kennel and an open run. I don't think they could see much of the other dogs because the doors were staggered so they were not even exactly opposite the other one.  The kennel lad seemed quite nice - that is all I want is for Meg to be treated with kindness - I suppose it is difficult to judge that without being a fly on the wall.  What is done is done = will be more careful next time.

> I once boarded my cat at the vets - never again. The cat was handed over the counter at surgery in her basket. On returning to pick her up, first of all they gave me the wrong cat then they couldn't get my cat back in the basket so asked me to go through and get her. She was in a tiny cage - no bigger than a cat carrier. These were all stacked up like small animal cages in the pet shop. I was horrified and, like you, kicking myself for not checking first but thought as it was a vets they would have good facilities :-(
>

There is a cattery not far from me where the cats are boarded in rabbit hutches in a big room and are allowed out one at a time for a while and then are back in the rabbit hutch for the day!  How this establishment gets it's boarding licence is beyond me.

unfotunatly his is how some kennelswork! I worked at one kennel and lasted 3 days, I swore at the owner of the kennel for belting a dog and through the brush down! His practice standards wernt to code! He used to clean kennels using washing up liquid and cold water which wont kill disease!

Best advice for the future is and I stress this!!! VIEW THE KENNELS! if th owner wont let you view they have somthing to hide.

if you can I would suggest ring round find a kennel with a spare space!

I dont know how vets can even consider boarding animals for any lenght of time, I think thats wrong! The idea of small cages is to prevent an animal moving too much in order to stop any any further injury or pulling a drip out. Im sorry you had a bad experince!

because of a former job, I had to source kennels. in my area there is only one kennel that I would recommend. I was disgusted as some of the kennels I looked at, varied from last p's at around 6.00 pm and first p's about 10.00/11.00 depending on how many dogs were in at the time. smelly, dirty, some had outside runs but didnt use as the dogs barked and made a noise! I would rather forgo my holdays or get someone nto my own home to take care of the dogs. I am always amazed at owners who book dogs into kennels and havent had a look at them first. 
One place I went to had a electic fire in the middle of the kennels, two dogs were running around when we went in, ( the man said thay had managed to get out of their kennel) the man couldnt get them back in their kennel, so I had to help him, he said his wife had gone shopping and left him to it. Thank god there wasnt an emergency or fire.  at the same place  dogs had lifted their legs in their kennel and their kennels were saturated. I would recommend viewing first and if the owner says to make an appointment then I would cross them off the list.  If its at feeding time then fair enough. walking time no as there should be a responsible person at the kennels who could show you around.

>varied from last p's at around 6.00 pm and first p's about 10.00/11.00

That's appalling, and totally unacceptable. For housetrained dogs which are used to a late-night bedtime pee at around 10 or 11pm and then getting up for a walk at 6.30 or 7am the next morning, it must be torment, not to say incredibly unhealthy, to have to hold on that long, or distress themselves by soiling indoors. Terribly, terribly cruel.

thats what I felt, my girls would wet their knickers rather than pee on the floor.

Terribly, terribly cruel.
Certainly!  In some kennels, staff go home in the winter at 4.30 in the afternoon because it's dark and so the dogs are locked in even before 6pm!!  That's why I used to travel a long way when I needed to leave mine because the kennel that I used would let them out between 10 and 10.30 in the evening and put them to bed with abiscuit, which is what most pet dogs are used to. :)

only kenneled one dog once but was really pleased with the place.
fully tiled spotless indoor kennel area about 6 x 10 foot with bed with bedding in and water dish then a simple flap to access her own concreted outdoor run that was roofed and again clean with sneeze barriers between her and the ajoining dogs runs.  indoor area heated when needed and loads of staff all of whom were adult.  no mixing with other peoples dogs.
staff were happy to use the buster cube i provided for her breakfast ration to give her some entertainment and when i went to collect her she was clearly besotted with the kennel maid who had been her main carer.
I turned up unannounced to check the place out before booking and they were happy to show me arround - fully supervised- and the owner lived on site. huge secure perimiter fence and burglar alarms all over place plus they fully inspected all my dogs vaccination paperwork and wouldn't take her unless all up to date.
there are good kennels out there.

sounds good, what area?

another nightmare was when I put an in season bitch (not mine, I dont 'do' kennels) into kennels. when I went in to collect her she was in a big run with another strange bitch. how the owner of the kennels could think of putting two strange dogs in to the run together is beond me.

I also had a friend who, when she went to collect her dog (from a diff kennel) that he wes a wimp, when the owner asked why, the kennel owner said that when ALL the dogs were in the run hers ran into a corner and stayed there.

I will never forget calling on a local boarding kennel that had a contract with the local council for holding strays, to do a spot check for a club dog that has gone missing. As we waited to be show round, a young girl came through clearly upset. It transpired that she had been walking an elderly JRT and her friend was walking a Rottie, they decided to let them off to play as they seemed to "like" each other and the rott had killed the JRT. We later found out that the owner of the JRT was told her dog had passed away peacefully!!

We did tell a friend who worked for the Animal Welfare Dept of the Council and they did try and investigate, but never got anywhere as the kennel owner strongly denied the incident. The only small consolation was that the Council stopped using the kennel.

Since then I have vowed never to leave my dogs in kennels.

There is a kennel not too far away from me which I have helped out at before which is a great place. Its all designed so when in the kennels the dogs can't see each other, have cough panels throughout the run and the internal part of the kennels is fully tiles so again no chance of dogs seeing each other, which is not a good idea. I have a book on kennel design and kennels facing each other is a trigger for many dogs to get over excited, upset etc etc..

The owners live on site so do extra walks and checks with dogs after the kennel staff have gone home.

Dogs can go on on or off lead walks, walks by the river or sand school. You can also choose whether your dog is to be walked with others or not. They assess the dogs and also get a full history from owners before allowing dogs off together, and only 4 dogs at a time with 2 walkers.

                        
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I once worked at a kennel which took in rescues as well as boarders.They used to put several dogs(from different owners and including rescues)together in a single kennel and run without asking the owners first.When they were full up there could be as many as 9 dogs together in a single kennel(which were admittedly large but thats not the point).Bear in mind that some of the rescues had come straight from the council pound and were possibly strays so nothing was known about their temperaments.As you can imagine fights and bullying were common.
And another kennel that I went for an interview at had 1 nice kennel block that was the only one shown to customers-the other blocks were grotty.

My Daughter is getting married next saturday so putting my 3 into kennels, its not far from where i live, I have heard good things from other people who have taken their dogs there, went and had a look  about a month ago, wow think I will book myself in,  the  owners were so helpful the kennels very clean , plenty of room , I was very impressed,  its just the tug on my heart when I leave them,  still I expect they will have fun,

I was told about about a show dog put into kennels.  When the owner collected him, he was injured.  The kennel owner hit him over the back to 'make him behave' and told them this.  Never able to show again as the dogs spine was injured and now bent.

Just an update - glad to say Meg seems fine - looks good and healthy - has obviously been eating OK - was very excited to see me but rather disappointed when I was told that I had to pay in cash because cheques may bounce!! - I had to go back out to find a cash point.  There was a sign up when we took her in that payment was due on arrival but I wasn't told that by the owner when I phoned to book, nor when I phoned to see what I should bring.  Ummm!  Not sure what to think of that one - just glad that Meg is home and seems happy, clean and healthy. Kennels did seem to smell better but it was the same young lad there - no sign of any other staff.  Meg seemed happy with him.

Glad she's ok.  Its always mum that worries lol.  Cash would indicate they don't declare some of it maybe.  Our local chinese won't take cheques anymore but that's due to charges they incure apparrently.

Bouncing cheques can be recompenced and rectified.

Businesses get charge for checques etc, and every penny counts these days, bounced checks will negtively affect cashflow.

> Cash would indicate they don't declare some of it maybe

That is what hubby thought!  but as Barbara says - businesses are scratching in this day and age - not easy to make a living.  It was a bit hard on Meg because she had to see me walk away from her again - I could hear her crying all the way up the drive back to my car.  She has stuck to my side all morning so far.